Digital outsider
In contrast to the digital native, a digital outsider is a person who, for various reasons, does not interact with the Internet or is excluded from it. People who do join the internet are called digital immigrants . A digital divide results from the different experiences, usage behavior and knowledge of the Internet .
Reasons for the emergence of digital outsiders
There are several personal or technical reasons why people might not connect to the internet. These are for example:
- no internet access possible or planned (e.g. in rural areas)
- Internet access can only be used to a limited extent or is prohibited (e.g. as a punishment or educational measure)
- Avoidance due to a lack of knowledge and knowledge (e.g. lack of knowledge of how to operate a computer or smartphone or how to configure Internet technologies)
- lack of interest or too little time
- general uncertainty due to the dangers (e.g. data theft or surveillance )
- Conscious avoidance and rejection behavior (e.g. due to low willingness to learn in old age, saving additional costs or fear of technostress and internet addiction )
Situation in Germany
In 2012, more than 27 million people in Germany were classified as digital outsiders according to a study by the Sinus Institute in Heidelberg . This corresponds to almost 40 percent of the total population. The Internet is used much more often by young people than old people.
Perspective of the digital natives
The digital natives are now so naturally on the Internet that they can no longer understand the fears and worries of the digital outsiders. While the digital outsiders long for more security on the Internet, the digital natives mostly reject these forms of interference and see it as an encroachment on their freedoms.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b For fear of erasing the Internet. Retrieved December 9, 2017 .
- ↑ Claudia Ehrenstein: Data security: Millions of German digital outsiders fear the web . In: THE WORLD . February 28, 2012 ( welt.de [accessed December 9, 2017]).